A new memoir from Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Cathy Glass, now with an exclusive preview of Cathy’s inspiring new title, Please Don’t Take My Baby, coming out on April 25th.Eight-year-old Aimee was on the child protection register at birth. Her five older siblings were taken into care many years ago. So no one can understand why she was left at home to suffer for so long. … so long. It seems Aimee was forgotten.
The social services are looking for a very experienced foster carer to look after Aimee and, when she reads the referral, Cathy understands why. Despite her reservations, Cathy agrees to Aimee on – there is something about her that reminds Cathy of Jodie (the subject of ‘Damaged’ and the most disturbed child Cathy has cared for), and reading the report instantly tugs at her heart strings.
When she arrives, Aimee is angry. And she has every right to be. She has spent the first eight years of her life living with her drug-dependent mother in a flat that the social worker described as ‘not fit for human habitation’. Aimee is so grateful as she snuggles into her bed at Cathy’s house on the first night that it brings Cathy to tears.
Aimee’s aggressive mother is constantly causing trouble at contact, and makes sweeping allegations against Cathy and her family in front of her daughter as well. It is a trying time for Cathy, and it makes it difficult for Aimee to settle. But as Aimee begins to trust Cathy, she starts to open up. And the more Cathy learns about Aimee’s life before she came into care, the more horrified she becomes.
It’s clear that Aimee should have been rescued much sooner and as her journey seems to be coming to a happy end, Cathy can’t help but reflect on all the other ‘forgotten children’ that are still suffering…
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It’s the best book I have read in a very long time. It is so real, so heart warming, so engrossing. I couldn’t put it down.
I can hardly wait to read another Cathy Glass book!
I always enjoy this author’s memoirs as a caregiver.
Every book I have read of Cathy Glass is totally awesome.
This true story gives insight into the foster system in the UK through the story of a young girl who was left in her family of origin until it was almost too late. I found this book to be informative, and it was interesting to compare the foster system of another country to that of ours in the US. The most compelling part of the story, however, …
It’s so sad what these children go through. Thank heavens for people like Cathy.
Reading this book got me started on Cathy Glass’ books, and I think I want to read them all!
Tugged at my heart
The books by Cathy Glass are hard to read. Not because she’s a poor writer, just the opposite. When faced with caring for the myriad of children as a Foster Carer in the U.K., Cathy charges herself with taking on children who are damaged in some way. Whether it’s by the child’s own family (usually the case) or by the system itself, Cathy’s …
Excellent
A true recounting of a British carer, someone who cares for foster children in the UK, and the story of 8 year old Aimee. This poor child was left with her mother who had already lost 5 other children due to her complete lack of care. Aimee is tested to be at the level of a 4 year old child simply due to the utter neglect she faced her entire …
This was a wonderful reading story. Very much worth the read